Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years (TV 1999)

Tells the story of Sadie and Bessie Delany, two African-American (they preferred "colored") sisters who both lived past the age of 100. They grew up on a North Carolina college campus, the ... See full summary »

Director:

Lynne Littman

Writers:

Sarah L. Delany (book), A. Elizabeth Delany (book),

Stars:

Diahann Carroll, Ruby Dee, Amy Madigan

2 wins & 8 nominations.

Cast

Credited cast:
Diahann Carroll	...	Sadie Delany
Ruby Dee	...	Annie Elizabeth 'Bessie' Delany
Amy Madigan	...	Amy Hill Hearth
Lisa Arrindell Anderson	...	Sadie in her 20s
Audra McDonald	...	Bessie in her 20s
Mykelti Williamson	...	Papa Delany
Lonette McKee	...	Mama Delany
Richard Roundtree	...	Booker T. Washington
Della Reese	...	Martha Logan
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Cameron Arnett	...	Lemuel
Nate Bynum
Thomas Clark	...	Lucious
Sharlease Collier	...	Church goer
Brandon Crawford	...	Bag Boy
Cordereau Dye	...	Hubert Thomas Delany

Storyline

Tells the story of Sadie and Bessie Delany, two African-American (they preferred "colored") sisters who both lived past the age of 100. They grew up on a North Carolina college campus, the daughters of the first African-American Episcopal bishop, who was born a slave, and a woman with an inter-racial background. With the support of each other and their family, they survived encounters with racism and sexism in their own different ways. Sadie quietly and sweetly broke barriers to become the first African-American home-ec teacher in New York City, while Bessie, with her own brand of outspokenness, became the second African-American dentist in New York City. At the ages of 103 and 101, they told their story to Amy Hill Hearth, a white New York Times reporter who published an article about them. The overwhelming response launched a bestselling book, a Broadway play, and this film.

---

Plot Keywords:

african american | new york | sexism | racism | sister | 

---

Genres:

Drama

---

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

18 April 1999 (USA)

Also Known As:

Having Our Say

Filming Locations:

Charlotte, North Carolina, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

C&J Productions, Columbia TriStar Television, Dreyfuss / James Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

While this movie is based on the first book the Delany sisters did together, certain parts of it - Sadie tricking her way into teaching at a school, and the sisters seeing themselves on Broadway - weren't revealed until Sadie published her own book "On My Own at 107" four years later.

---

Quotes

Annie Elizabeth 'Bessie' Delany: We are not old maids, we are maiden ladies.

User Reviews

A heart warming musing on a century of black experience in America

"Having Our Say" brings new meaning to "coming of age" as it tells the story of two black American sisters, both 100+ years old. Carroll and Dee make a delightful centerpiece for this film which, through a series of flashbacks, recounts their growing up and growing old in a racially divided America. A highly sanitized film, "Having..." is a light hearted reflection on the black experience.